 "From Malpua to Galauti Kebab: Presidential dinner for Obama has all the flavours of India")
In perhaps the biggest ever Presidential banquet dinner, 250 people have been invited at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Sunday night. President Pranab Mukherjee is hosting the dinner for US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. According to reports, guest list hardly exceeds 100 at such banquets usually.
India on a platter seems to be the dominant flavour of the dinner. Galauti Kebab, Soufiyans fish tikka, chicken malai tikka, stir fried broccoli, paneer malai tikka, veg kabab, mustard fish curry, mutton Rogan josh, chicken korma, Dal Raisina, veg Hakka, Kadhi Pakora, chhole, papad, pulao, tandoori roti and naan figures on the dinner menu, this NDTV report said.
For the first time, instead of the banquet hall the Presidential dinner will be held at the newly-built Ceremonial Hall. Hindustan Times quoted an official as saying, “Different regions and states of India will be represented in the menu.”
For dessert guests will be served with Gujia, malpua, sondesh and rabri, according to this Zee News report.
An earlier article in The Indian Express had reported that the guests were requested to RSVP the invite. The RSVP is to indicate their food preference as vegetarian or non-vegetarian.
The fancy guest list includes Amitabh Bachchan, Aamir Khan, A R Rahman, Gulzar, Priyanka Chopra and Sachin Tendulkar. Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and vice-chairman Rahul Gandhi have been invited too.
The invites were emailed to the guests which also indicated that the spouses were not invited. The invitees are expected to arrive by 7.45 pm and dinner will be served by 8.45 pm.
Reports earlier said that the US President has been instructed by his doctor not to have spicy food. Firstpost reporter Shibaji Roychoudhary in this article said: “Though the American president has often spoken about his fondness for keema and dal, he may have to resist the temptation to try these out. According to a report published in New York Times, the President is suffering from acid reflux - as told by his chief doctor, Capt. Ronny L Jackson of the US Navy.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked his bureaucrats to keep the president’s health in mind and prepare food accordingly for the ‘private dinner’ to be organised for Obama at 7 Race Course Road (Modi’s residence) at the Panchvati complex with select Cabinet colleagues and officials.
Meanwhile, spokesperson for ministry of external affairs Syed Akbaruddin tweeted out a photo of the lunch menu which took place at the Hyderabad House. President Obama after paying his tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat
Lunch time.
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) January 25, 2015
Here is what PM @narendramodi & Prez @BarackObama are having for lunch. pic.twitter.com/N9D4TIsqol
Sorry to disappoint those who thought there was no non-vegeterian fare. Here it is. pic.twitter.com/x9Wj7gU3Ss
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) January 25, 2015
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